They say that a typical first viewing of a house will take on average between 20-30 minutes with many people looking at the cosmetic side rather than what really matters. In this first part of top tips for buying a home, either privately or through an estate agent, homebuddy wants to give you some ideas of where to start.

Price – Does my budget allow this purchase?

It may seem like an obvious one, but have you worked out your borrowing potential? Have you spoken to a mortgage broker? Do you know the type of property you can afford? It is often tempting to go for a property at the top end of your bracket, but we would always recommend that you don’t weigh yourself down with a large mortgage. You want to still enjoy life! If you are in doubt over how much you can borrow, why not speak to one our homebuddy’s mortgage brokers today.

Survey the surrounding grounds and property exterior.

When viewing the property, before going inside, look at the surrounding grounds and check the exterior of the property. Consider the following as a starting point:

• Are there any visible cracks in the brickwork or render?
• Look at the roof – are there any missing or plants / moss growing on it?
• Fascia boards, soffits and guttering – do they appear in good condition?
• Take a step back and look at the external structure – do you notice any subsidence or leaning?
• Is there any damage to any retaining walls and/or fencing?
• Do you notice any standing water on hard surfaces around the property?
• Is the property south facing as these tend to get more light?
• Of course, we would always recommend that you conduct a survey of the property to ensure that these points are picked up on, but by inspecting yourself at an early stage, you may spot something obvious that could save you a lot of time and /or money further down the line.

When walking around the inside of the property.

When entering a property, look for ‘obvious’ and visible problems, some common examples would include

• Checking for damp which can often be identified by a musty smell or mildew / dark patches / mould forming on walls.
• Look for cracks, especially in aging properties as aging properties can be subject to hairline fractures in the walls.
• Check the windows – are they double glazed? Run a finger down them, is there condensation? Is there any sign of cracked or rotting window frames?
• Consider the storage space available in the house. It is an overlooked point but should be addressed -i.e. is there space for cleaning appliances, towels, shelving units, cupboards. Newly built houses may struggle to accommodate enough space.
• Plumbing- ask about the age of the boiler, when were the radiators installed?
• Is the kitchen and/or bathroom to your taste? Can you afford to replace it?
• How old is the electrical wiring in the property? Does the fuse box meet modern safety standards? Will any of the electrics need replacing soon?
• Are the rooms big enough for your requirements? Sellers like to use props to enhance the size of the room, with usage of smaller furniture, mirrors, lighting, cosy fires, freshly painted walls. Take measurements if it helps.

Whilst the points raised in this article can be expensive to fix if not picked up on, regardless of them, you need to ask yourself can you see yourself living there? Do you get a good feeling?

So next time you go for a house viewing, remember these key items and look out for future guides and tips as well as our soon to be published “checklist” which can be printed and taken to your viewing.

If after viewing a property you have a bid accepted, we would still recommend that you instruct a surveyor to carry out an inspection of the property. Homebuddy have partnered with local and experienced surveyors who would be more than happy to assist you. So why not contact them today for a free no obligation quote, just visit the “our partners” page on our website and click on Surveyors.

Visit homebuddy today at www.homebuddy.co.uk